(LibertyInsider.org) – Tributes appeared on social media platforms after family members announced the death of veteran character actor Bill Cobbs on social media days after his 90th birthday. The post said the actor “passed away peacefully at his home in California” on June 25 and asked for prayers and encouragement.
Cobbs was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1934. He didn’t decide to pursue acting until he was 36 when he moved to New York. His professional debut was a role in a production of “Ride a Black Horse.” Stage, screen, and commercial parts soon started coming his way.
Cobbs made memorable appearances in several films and television series, especially in the 1990s. He played Whitney Houston’s agent in “Bodyguard,” which starred Kevin Costner in the title role. He also appeared in “Demolition Man” alongside Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, and Sylvester Stallone, playing an aged friend of Stallone’s.
Bill Cobbs
1934 – 2024 pic.twitter.com/JpL2EXATDj— Jason Voorhees (@JasonVoorheesIM) June 27, 2024
Showing his range, Cobbs played a jazz musician in the comedy “That Thing You Do” with Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn, and Liv Tyler. Not long after, he played a high school coach in “Air Bud,” successfully holding his own in scenes with cute kids and a golden retriever.
Cobbs even earned an Emmy in 2020 for his work in the series “Dino Dana.”
Yet the role that co-star Wesley Snipes paid tribute to Cobbs for was his portrayal of the Old Man in “New Jack City,” who killed Snipes’ lead character, Nino Brown.
Snipes said on X that he hoped his friend would “Rest in Power.”
Fan Curtiss King also appreciated Cobbs’ work in “New Jack City,” calling it classic.
Actor Wendell Pierce posted tributes to Cobbs, whom he called a mentor and a father figure. Pierce worked with Cobbs on television shows “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Gregory Hines Show,” playing his son in each. He said, “Nothing Counts So Much As Family.”
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